The triune principle at the heart of God’s nature is unit band distinction, that is, all three persons of the Trinity are equal in essence yet distinct in person. The distinction among Father, Son, and Holy Spirit can also be seen in the way they relate to one another and the role each plays in accomplishing the plan of redemption. 

No doctrine is more fundamental to our theology than the doctrine of God. Concerning the nature of God, we must firmly proclaim that the God revealed in Scripture is the only true God (Deut. 6:4; Isa. 45:5). This truth concerning the nature of God is expressed further in the historic doctrine of the Trinity, which affirms that God is one in essence and three in person.

The triune principle at the heart of God’s nature is unit band distinction, that is, all three persons of the Trinity are equal in essence yet distinct in person. The distinction among Father, Son, and Holy Spirit can also be seen in the way they relate to one another and the role each plays in accomplishing the plan of redemption.

Within the New Testament, the unity of our Triune God is clearly portrayed in the baptism and prayers of Jesus (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-23; John 17). The distinct function of members of the Trinity can also be demonstrated as to their roles in the mission. For example, Scripture states that the Father sent the Son into the world (John 3:16). Likewise, after the Son returned to the Father (John 16:10), the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit into the world (John 14:26; Acts 2:33).

The Trinity As A Framework for The Church

British theologian Colin Gunton once argued that one shortfall of modern ecclesiology derives from the fact that it has rarely been rooted in the conception of the Triune God. This observation is worth consideration. I would argue that the unity of the Triune God, even as each member is distinct in his function to accomplish the plan of redemption provides a framework by which we can understand the unity and the mission of the church.

One might even argue that we cannot formulate a proper ecclesiology without reference to the doctrine of the Triune God. For the purpose of this article, I will utilize three of the primary New Testament metaphors for the church, namely, the people of God, the body of Jesus Christ, and the temple of the Holy Spirit, to build a framework for a Trinitarian ecclesiology. Perhaps a more comprehensive understanding of how the doctrine of the Trinity informs our ecclesiology might nourish a more holistic understanding in at least two particular areas, namely, the unity and mission of the church.

The People Of God

The Apostle Peter affirms that the church is a people belonging to God (1 Pet. 2:9-10). That God the Father has called to himself a people establishes the foundational identity of the church as the family of God. In the New Testament, the language “children of God” is reserved for people who have been called by God and adopted through Jesus Christ by the regeneration of the Spirit. Therefore, the essential unity of the church as the people of God finds its source in the oneness of the Triune God, who exists in unity and diversity. Similarly, the church is called to picture unity in diversity without division.

[Editor’s note: This article is incomplete. The source for this document was originally published at CREDO Magazine—however, the link (URL) to the original article is unavailable and has been removed.]